Quilting Basics

A large variety of thread has been produced since the boom in the interest that people have started taking in the quilting craft. And since there is such a huge amount of thread, choosing the right one can leave you in a whole lot of confusion. You will have a wide choice to select from.

There are two categories into which quilting threads fall- thread for embellishing and sewing thread. In quilting, the most popularly used thread is sewing thread. Lets briefly discuss about that. There are different fibers and weights in which you can select sewing thread. The thread weights range from as less as 28 to as much as 60. Strength is the basic property that quilting thread should possess so that it lasts for long. Therefore it is best you go for threads that weigh around 40. Threads that weigh 28 are usually used for embellishment and those that weigh 50 are usually used for piecing. Reading the label can help you find the weight of thread that you are looking for. The labeling is usually of the kind: 30/2. Here 30 is the thread weight and 2 is the number of plies.

Cotton, polyester, plastic, metallic and rayon are the most common threads for quilting. Plastic and metallic threads are used specialty stitches and embellishments only. The most common is cotton thread and it is usually mercerized. Mercerization is a process in which the fiber is made to swell and straighten repeatedly. This removes the fibers tendency to get fuzzy and also increases the thread's luster. The common weights of cotton thread range from 30-60.

Another high lustrous thread is rayon while polyester is known to have a colorfast and non-shrinkable finish. It is usually a little tougher to sew metallic threads and it is not recommended for beginners although they make the quilt look dazzlingly beautiful. A few popular and trust worthy brands that quilters can choose from are Coats and Clark, Guterman that is popular for its ease of use and strength especially for hand quilting, the Madeira rayon thread, which is good for embroidery on leather or denim, and Mettler, which offers several different fibers.

Using old sewing thread is not such a good idea as old threads tend to degenerate when on the spool. Take the old thread by pulling on it after unreeling it a bit. If it s naps, then it is most likely to snap even when you place it in the sewing machine. It is best you buy new thread what with the vast variety of threads available for quilting and its low cost. This way you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration.

There are certain manufacturers who manufacture special threads for the purpose for embellishing and you can easily find them at any local quilting store. For hand quilting, there are a range of colors and fibers in which embroidery floss is available. You will definitely fall more into love with quilting once you learn about the various threads available for it.

Abhishek is an avid Quilting enthusiast and he has got some great Quilting Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 40 Pages Ebook, "Understanding The Basics Of Quilting!" from his website http://www.Fun-Galore.com/622/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Agarwal
http://EzineArticles.com/?Quilting-Threads---Available-Threads&id=1660665

photo credit: IndieNate

Quilters who are not already a machine embroidery enthusiast just may find themselves engrossed in the craft once they realize they could incorporate machine embroidery into their quilting.

Embroidery is a traditional way to add special decorative touches to quilts. Whether by hand or machine, a quilter may accent his or her creation with embroidered flowers or other accents. But today's machine embroidery - for those willing to try it - can make quilting quite different.

For instance, a quilter may use a simple embroidery design to let the machine "quilt" the project. Simple one color designs work best, especially for the beginner.

If you want to give this a try, look for an embroidery design that's simple - one that you can visualize stitched into a quilt. Some redwork inspired designs work well. Other simple designs like flowers, circles, sun/moon, houses, hearts - there are all sorts of designs to choose from - can work well as quilting stitches.

Be sure to keep your quilt top's theme in mind. We all know and love the traditional beauty of the double wedding ring quilt. While the quilt top is beautiful with its color variety, the quilt back is just as pretty with its simple stitching that follows the design on the top.

What if you used an embroidery machine to quilt hearts into the quilt design? That one unexpected touch would truly make your quilt unique.

Have you ever needed to throw together a quick quilt? Many quilting pros laugh at the notion, but sometimes we need a quick gift to give and want to make it personal. Lap quilts and baby quilts are very easy to create on an embroidery machine.

Simply hoop your top fabric, batting and backing fabric into an embroidery hoop. Pick a design and get to work! Even if you are quilting solid color fabrics, you can complete a quick, beautiful quilt with the embroidery machine in no time!

Some ideas for a baby blanket for a boy would be to use outlines of footballs, airplanes, trucks, trains, etc., for your quilting pattern. The hardest part of your job will be re-hooping fabric and pushing the "start" button!

Ideas for a baby blanket for a girl include outlines of flowers, baskets, dolls, kittens, etc.

The method above uses machine embroidery on relatively small quilts. Larger quilts can be done the same way or may be quilted with machine embroidery by individual quilt blocks. Experiment to decide which method is easiest for you and remember that the machine embroidery quilting method may change with each unique project.

If you can't find a pattern you like already on embroidery file, ask a digitizer to help you create one. A digitizer takes art images like drawings, clip art images and fonts and alters them via computer to become a stitch pattern. So if you'd like for your family tree wall hanging to be quilted with a tree pattern, a digitizer can create one for you.

Tell your digitizer you want to use the image for quilting. The digitizer will need to plan stitches accordingly.

Quilting is rich in tradition and therefore many true-blue quilters do not like the idea of using machine embroidery to quilt their projects. Isn't it great to try new ideas and techniques? Remember, not to long ago quilters refused to consider machine quilting at all! Embroidery machines will never take the place of quilters, but it can be a fun and rewarding sewing technique to try from time to time.

Penny Halgren

http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com

Penny has been a quilter for more than 26 years. She enjoys exploring all aspects of quilting sharing her knowledge with all quilters.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Penny_Halgren
http://EzineArticles.com/?Use-Your-Embroidery-Machine-to-Quilt?-You-Bet!&id=1005202

photo credit: Siege N. Gin

Sometimes tying a quilt seems like the very last resort to getting a quilt finished.

While hand quilters love the look of a skillfully hand quilted quilt, and machine quilters appreciate the beauty and complexity of fine machine quilting, tying a quilt can be equally rewarding. And those ties don't need to be simple yarn knots with tails tied every 6 inches.

For example, take a look at some of the particularly ornate Crazy Quilts from more than 100 years ago. These gorgeous Crezy Quilts were tied, but it isn't obvious how they were tied, since you can't see the ties on the front; thus didn't distract from the exquisite embroidery stitches.

On the back side of these quilts there are simple double thread tacks holding the quilt together. To achieve this, the patchwork quilt top was sewn to a foundation fabric, securing the top to the inner layer.

The backing layer is also attached to the foundation fabric in the center of the quilt, but the ties do not come through to the quilt top. By carefully pulling the needle and thread through only the backing and the foundation, the double threads could be tied on the back.

Extra work, to be certain, but clearly worth the effort in order to preserve the quality and beauty of the Crazy Quilt top.

But, What About the Patchwork Quilts of Today?

Everyone agrees that tying a quilt is much faster and generally easier than either machine or hand quilting.

Basically anyone who can hold a needle can tie a quilt and get a sense of accomplishment. All members of a congregation are invited to tie a knot in the prayer quilt, no sewing ability needed. Yarn, perle cotton or embroidery thread tied in a simple knot is perfect for that kind of quilt. When the quilts are made, the quilters place the ties in the quilts, and then the members of the congregation finish the quilts by tying the knots.

Other quilts would be ruined by either hand or machine quilting. Anyone who has seen a moderately heavily quilted quilt understands that the quilting tends to reduce the puffiness in a quilt.

If you want a puffy, fluffy quilt, using thick batting will give you that look. And tying the quilt will keep the layers together while maintaining the puffiness you want. Hand or machine quilting this type of quilt would significantly reduce the puffiness, and completely change the look of your quilt.

Many tied quilts are simply tied in the corners between the blocks, leaving the blocks as open space. Other quilts are tied in the center of each block with either yarn or perle cotton.

But, tying a quilt doesn't need to be boring!

The best ties are washable, won't unravel, will stay tied, and are strong enough to hold together when they are tied. Even with those considerations, why not add a little flair? Using embroidery floss or cording might be a possibility. And instead of using yarn or perle cotton, try a ribbon.

And what about adding something interesting in the tie? Sew a cute shaped button - say a train or fire truck - onto your quilt, and then tie the knot on the back of the quilt. Simply pull your thread from the back of the quilt, attach the button, and knot the thread, just as you would sew a button on a shirt.

Another possibility is a bow. Instead of just knotting your quilt tie, finish it off with a bow. Add a large button under the bow for an even more interesting look. As added safety against the bow coming untied, double knot it.

And speaking of trains, trucks and other things with wheels, make double-sided circles of fabric and sew them on to your quilt as wheels of your vehicle, attaching them just in the center. You might even add a button on top, and make the fabric circle wheel able to spin around.

If you have a lattice on your quilt top, maybe you could lay down a narrow ribbon and tie it in place with ribbon ties every few inches along the way. If you will wash the quilt or wall hanging, the ribbon strips might need additional stitching to secure them to the quilt top.

Where you place the ties on your quilt can be interesting, too. Just as quilters stitch their quilting to make a design, your ties can add to the design of your quilt.

If your quilt has an ocean flavor, your ties can be like birds in the sky or whiskers on a seal. A basket quilt might have bows along the handles of the baskets. And your Sunbonnet Sue might have ribbons on her hat.

Have fun with every aspect of your quilt - from sewing the blocks together to quilting the top - whether you hand quilt, machine quilt or tie your quilt, finish it so someone you love can enjoy using it.

Penny Halgren

http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com



Penny is the author of 9 books for beginner quilters and a self-taught quilter of more than 26 years who seeks to interest new quilters and provide them with the resources necessary to create beautiful quilts.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Finish your Quilt With Tying

photo credit: jude hill

When you start out in your quilting journey, the first thing you will need to investigate is the question: what is quilting fabric? Well, there are many schools of thought on that subject. You can use many different types of fabrics in quilts, but the primary type is cotton fabric, usually referred to as broadcloth or gingham. Cotton wears very well and tends to hold color and not fade over time, if quality dyes are used in the manufacturing process.

Quilting fabrics are available online at literally thousands of websites. An experienced quilter will do most of their shopping on the Internet, where you can comparison shop from the comfort of your living room, rather than going from store to store! Quilting supply retailers will often extend discounts to their online customers, so pay attention to the sales as you let your fingers do the shopping!

When choosing quilting fabric, be sure to select only one type per quilt, as not all fabrics wear in the same way, and a heavier fabric can stretch or tear a lighter one such as cotton. It is best to use one fabric type, unless you are making a crazy quilt. Broadcloth is probably the most popular type of cotton fabric used today and tends to be relatively inexpensive, with a wide ranging color palette and print availability. Another popular type of quilt fabric is batik, which is cotton that is dyed in the batik style, making for rich, deep true colors that do not run or fade with washing. Batik will generally cost more than plain cotton broadcloth, but makes for a striking addition to any quilt.

You can also use muslin to make quilts, although it is primarily utilized as a backing material. Quilts are composed of three layers: the quilt top, which is what you will see most of time; the batting or wadding, which is what gives the quilt its three dimensional aspect, and finally, the backing material. Quilts are finished by sewing a binding all the way around, generally the same color fabric as the body of the quilt.

Flannel is another popular quilting fabric. It is most commonly used in baby quilts for its soft quality and wearability. Flannel adds a little weight to a quilt, and a great deal of warmth. Whatever type of quilt you choose to make, select one kind of fabric and have fun sewing!

Quilting is my passion. If you want to read more tips and insights from me about quilting fabric, you can visit this article.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Desiree_Edwin
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-Quilting-Fabric?&id=2220010

photo credit: *Vintage Fairytale*

A great way to keep kids busy is to introduce them to quilting. While there are numerous crafts and fun activities for smaller children in daycare, preschool, or elementary school, finding educational crafts for older girls can be challenging. Quilting crafts for kids can help older children learn sewing techniques, spark creativity, and bust those times of boredom. It's a skill that can be used for a lifetime.

Girls love quilting because they're able to pick and choose from hundreds of patterns of all shapes and sizes. There are patterns containing flowers, squares, circles, characters, animals, nature scenes, and a variety of colors. Crafts and sewing can go hand in hand, so once a child learns quilting, she can easily add other sewing skills if desired.

Quilting Books for Beginners

Quilting books for kids offer step-by-step instructions about quilting. They also start with the basics such as how to thread a sewing machine and how to stitch in a straight line. The books list what types of fabrics, tools, and supplies are needed to make gorgeous quilts. Some books offer photos, a glossary, tips, actual quilt projects with step-by-step guides, beautiful patchwork ideas, and more. Once your child learns the basics of quilting, she can add to her skills and learn to make pillows, placemats, wall hangings, or lap quilts.

A Quilt for Every Occasion

Making quilts can be a fun way for your daughter to decorate her room in her favorite colors or themes. Quilts also make great gifts for any occasion: birthdays, Christmas, weddings, baby showers, graduations, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and even Valentine's Day. Quilt designs might also be geared toward a season, with flower patterns and light colors such as pink, light green, yellow, or baby blue in spring and summer. Darker colors such as red, brown, black, green, or blue will work well for autumn and winter patterns. Quilts as gifts will express love and effort because she made the gift very special with her own hands.

For the Career-Minded

Teens who want to earn extra money will find quilting to be very rewarding. It does take time and effort to make a quilt, but the returns can be excellent. She can sell her quilts at local flea markets, consignment shops, or even online through a website or auction (with parent's help, of course). Quilts are always in demand, and all styles and colors can be sold for profits. She can make quilts of contemporary styles or lovely patchwork designs like "grandma used to make!" It's her choice. She can even ask her friends and relatives about buying the quilts.

If you don't own a sewing machine, you might be able to find an affordable machine used at a garage sale or flea market. Or, check your local newspaper in the classifieds. You can buy one new in a local sewing supply store or on the Web. There are online auctions for sewing machines as well, so make sure to check all these resources to find a great deal.

Quilting skills will take some time to learn, but once she becomes confident, she can enjoy quilting as a way to relax and create something of value. If you'd like to start quilting with your daughter or even teach a class of young people how to quilt, search online today to find instructional books and websites about quilting.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Quilting Books and Ideas for Kids.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Easy-Quilting-Crafts-For-Kids&id=1492243

photo credit: ralphhogaboom